Urras Energy
Community Turbines

Founding Members

Agnes Rennie:
Agnes is currently chair of Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (UOG) and a director of the Clan Macquarrie Community Centre. She is the manager of a book publishing company and has previously worked as a self-employed development consultant. Agnes is a graduate of Aberdeen University and originally worked with Highlands and Islands Development Board supporting community co-operatives. Since then she has held public office, including periods as a local authority councillor and an area commissioner with the Crofting Commission. Agnes lives in the heart of the Estate and is an active crofter. Her interests/strengths are land and crofting arrangements, community development and local knowledge.

Norman Thomson:
Norman is also a director of UOG, a former director of Sporsnis and former treasurer of the Islands Book Trust. He trained as a mechanical engineer and is a retired oil industry senior project and commercial manager with over 30 years experience in fabrication and engineering operations. Norman lives in the Estate area and is an active crofter. His interests/strengths are energy, commercial operations and local knowledge (particularly crofting arrangements).

Carola Bell:
Carola is the vice-chair of UOG, director of the local community leisure facility, Sporsnis, a director (former Chair) of Community Energy Scotland and a director of Western Isles Development Trust. She has been active in developing local wind energy and solar projects in connection with Feed-In Tariff support. Holding a degree in economics with rural development, Carola was formerly a self-employed development consultant, previously a senior manager involved in rural development at Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a researcher for an EU Common Agricultural Programme initiative prior to that. She lives in the Estate area and is an active crofter. Carola's interests/strengths are renewable energy, commercial operations and local knowledge.